Teacher tenure law ruled unconstitutional, in part, by Louisiana judge

A north Louisiana judge on Friday declared part of a 2012 law overhauling teacher tenure in the state unconstitutional. State District Judge Benjamin Jones ruled in a lawsuit against the Monroe City School Board. He said the constitutional rights of a teacher facing dismissal were violated when the board followed an appeal process outlined in the law.

Jones' ruling further complicates the status of the broad law, which was designed to make it tougher for teachers to earn the job protection of tenure and to lessen the authority of local school boards over a local superintendent's hiring and firing decisions.